Impression device with cutout features for embedding therein



Feb. 15, 1966 5. DE LUCIA 3,234,681

IMPRESSION DEVICE WITH CUTOUT FEATURES FOR EMBEDDING THEREIN Filed Jan. 17, 1962 H612 FIG 10 23 INVENTOR.

Sanro De Lucia ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,234,681 IMPRESSION DEVICE WITH CUTOUT FEATURES FOR EMBEDDING THEREIN Santo De Lucia, Newtown, C0nn., assignor of twenty-five percent to Arthur T. Fattibene, Stratford, Conn. Filed Jan. 17, 1962, Ser. No. 166,796 2 Claims. (Cl. 46-22) This invention relates to an article of manufacture, and more particularly it relates to an educational device in the form of a plane surface upon which images in two and/or or three dimensions can readily formed and unformed.

An object of this invention is to provide a versatile impression device formed with a smooth, pliable marking surface upon which impressions can be readily formed and which impressions may be combined with cut-outs to create various attractive and amusing images for providing a constant source of entertainment for children.

Another object is to provide an impression device in which the impression rnade thereon can be readily erased to restore the smooth surface thereof, and thereby rendering it readily reusable for receiving other impressions.

Still another object resides in the provision of an amusing impression device which is relatively simple in structure, inexpensive to fabricate and positive in operation.

In general this invention, which constitutes an improvement to my Patent No. 2,958,960, comprises a backing member formed of a suitable relatively rigid material upon which there is placed a layer of soft, pliable material to form a smooth surface upon which impressions may be readily formed by a stylus penetrating the soft layer. The improvement over my prior patent resides in enlarging the versatility of the mentioned patented device. This is attained by providing amusing cut-outs or the like, e.g. facial or animated features, with which a child may create images having two and/ or three dimensions. This is readily accomplished by inserting or imbedding the various cut-out features directly into the layer of pliable material. With the instant construction the cut-outs may be imbedded to lean at any desired angle. In addition, additional pliable material may be supplied to create sculptured forms on which the cut-outs may be imbedded and which forms may be directly positioned on the pliable surface of the instant impression device whereby additional impressions may be formed in the surface of said device for complementing the sculptured forms.

A feature of this invention resides in the increased versatility to which the instant impression device is adapted.

Another feature resides in the provision that it is extremely amusing to small children, harmless, and not readily destructible.

Other features and advantages will be more readily apparent when considered in view of the drawings and description thereof, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the improved impression device of this invention, having a portion thereof broken away;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the device of FIG. 1 illustrating the versatility thereof afforded by the instant concept;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a blank of sheet material containing the colored animated cut-out feature that are adapted to be imbedded in the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a view of the roller used to erase the impressions or markings formed in the surface of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a detail plan view of a modified form of the invention;

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FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 77 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a detail plan view of a further modified detail of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line 99 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of still a further modified form of the invention;

FIG. 11 illustrates a further modification of the concept of which this invention is susceptible; and

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along the line 1212 of FIG. 11.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 the improved impression device 20 of this invention. It comprises a relatively rigid backing member 21, which may be formed of any suitable material. However, it is preferred to have the backing member 21 formed of molded plastic. As shown, the backing member comprises a substantially rectangular member having a raised frame portion 22 extending about the periphery thereof. The center portion 23 of the member is provided with a plurality of longitudinally and transversely extending grooves 24, 25 defining raised portion 26 therebetween; as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2.. The purpose for the grooves 24, 25 is to provide for a positive mechanical bond for the layer of soft and pliable material 27 which is adherent to the backing member 21 within the frame portion 22 thereof.

While FIGS. 1 and 2 employ grooves 24, 25 to effect a more positive bond between the layer of pliable material 27 and the backing member 21; other geometric constructions may be employed. For example, in FIGS. 6 and 7, the surface 23A of the backing member 21A may be provided with a plurality of round holes 213. If desired, the walls 21C of the holes 21B may be tapered to provide a firm grip for the material adapted to be disposed thereover.

In FIGS. 8 and 9 the surface '30 of the backing member 31 may be provided with a plurality of projections '32 extending beyond the surface 30.

With each of the various backing constructions 21, 21A or 30, it will be realized that the readily pliable nature of the layer disposed thereover will cause it to assume the shapes formed in their respective surfaces and thus insures a firm, mechanical connection between the layer and the backing member.

Since clay has been found to be a suitable material for forming the layer 27 covering the backing member 21, the natural adhesive properties thereof further enhances the bond between the layer 27 and the backing 21. Thus the combined backing 21 and layer 27 attached thereto can be held in any position without separation thereof occurring. The clay, due to its natural oils, will remain soft and pliable for a considerable length of time, even when completely exposed to atmosphere.

In accordance with this invention impressions or markings 35 can be readily made in the layer of clay 27 by means of a suitable stylus 36 by imbedding the point thereof in the clay, whereby moving the imbedded stylus displaces a portion of the clay to form a defined, clearly visible impression 35 directly in the surface of the clay 27. To erase the marking as formed, a roller 40 with handle 40A is provided. Thus, by merely applying light pressure in rolling the roller 40 over the surface of the clay 27, the displaced portions thereof are replaced, thereby smoothing over the marks formed therein. The surface is thus made smooth and readied for reuse.

To enhance the versatility of the impression device 20, cut-outs 41 having facial features and the like are provided. This cut-out 41. may be blanked out from sheet material 4-2 such as cardboard, paper or the like, or they 3 may be formed as molded articles in three dimensions of suitable plastic or the like.

FIG. 4 illustrates a blank 42 of cardboard from which the features 41 may be pre-blanked. Thus by separating the cut-out features 41 and imbedding the same in the layer of clay 27 as seen in FIGS. -2 and 3, it will be noted that a combined plane two and/or three dimensional image may be formed. For example, the mouth and eyes cut-outs may be simply adhered to the surface of the clay while the ears and nose cut-outs may be imbedded at an angle to the surface 27 to lend depth or third dimension to the image 43, the original outline 43A of which is drawn in the surface 27 of the clay with the stylus 36. As best seen in FIGURE 3 the nose cutout, for example, is bent along an intermediate fold line so that it extends above the surface of the clay. Thus, it (will be apparent that the instant device 20 permits a child to combine several skills in forming a given image. It allows the child to draw in a plane surface; it provides the child with locating various features 41 in .a various patterns to obtain a sculptured appearance; and it allows the child to write words associated with the marks and images formed therein.

-A modified embodiment of the inventive concept is shown in FIG. 10. In this form of the invention the impression device 50, which is similar in all respects as herein described except that the device 50 is provided with a raised projection 51 extending beyond the surface of the clay 52. Extending beyond the projection 51 may be a spike 53 on which a ball of clay 54 is imbedded. With this extra clay a child may shape a figure, as for example, a head or other animated form in any desired molded shape, and which shape can then be dressed up by adding the various facial cut-outs and the like 55.

FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate a further modification of this concept. In this form there is provided a doll construction 60 which has a torso portion 60A of any suitable rigid material, for example wood, metal, plastic or the like. Extending above the torso is a projection or spoke 61 for receiving the head 62 of the figure. In the instant case the head is formed of a soft pliable material, e.g., clay, which can be shaped in any form desired. Thus, any exaggerated head shape can be formed to the amusement of the child, and the head dressed up with the cutouts 63 for added caricature and amusement.

In the illustrated embodiment the projection or spike 62 is cruciform in cross-section. This permits the head 62 to maintain its position relative to the body 61.

While the instant invention has been disclosed with reference to several embodiments for practicing the same, it is to be appreciated that the invention is not to be taken as limited to all of the details thereof as modifications and variations thereof may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An article of manufacture comprising a stiff backing including a member having a substantially flat surface, a raised integral frame portion extending about the outer periphery of said surface, a relatively thick layer of exposed soft readily pliable and displaceable material secured to said backing within said frame portion and adapted to form a smooth surface thereon, means for forming a mechanical bond between said layer of pliable material and said backing, said means including projections spaced over the surface of said backing Which become imbedded in the layer of said pliable material placed thereover to secure the layer of material to said backing, said surface being adapted to receive sufficiently deep markings directly thereon lby displacement of portions of said soft material by a stylus so as to be directly legible thereon and which markings can be readily deleted at will by moving an erasing surface over the surface of said layer to restore said displaced material to a smooth surface, and planar cutouts representing physical features that are placeable onto the surface of said pliable material, at least one of said planar physical features cutouts being bent out of said surface so that said last mentioned cutouts each are in more than one plane to give third dimension thereto so that said planar physical features cutouts define with said markings a two dimensional image having raised three dimensional portions.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said article includes a spike extending beyond the surface of said pliable material, and a ball pliable material adapted to be imbedded on said spike, said ball being adapted to be readily moldable into a desired animated form by hand, said molded form being dressed up by imbedding said cutouts into the surface thereof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 850,747 4/ 1907 Giles et al. 1 8-59 1,210,354 12/1916 Noyes 46-46 1,369,640 2/1921 Evans 35-41 1,767,421 6/ 1930 Wirth 15443 1,825,213 1 9/ 1931 Himmell 35-26 2,013,114 9/1935 Smith 46-156 2,019,516 11/1935 Weinberg 46-22 2,157,456 5/1939 Koyemann 154-I.L. 2,592,078 4/ 1952 Taylor et .al. 46-2 2 2,641,859 6/ 1953 Albert 46-151 2,958,960 ll/1960 De Lucia 35-66 FOREIGN PATENTS 9,758 1915 Great Britain. 656,087 8/ 1951 Great Britain. 928,032 5/ 1947 France.

RICHARD c. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner. 

1. AN ARTICLE OF MANUFACTURE COMPRISING A STIFF BACKING INCLUDING A MEMBER HAVING A SUBSTANTIUALLY FLAT SURFACE, A RAISED INTEGRAL FRAME PORTION EXTENDING ABOUT THE OUTER PERIPHERY OF SAID SURFACE, A RELATIVELY THICK LAYER OF EXPOSED SOFT READILY PLIABLE AND DISPLACEABLE MATERIAL SECURED TO SAID BACKING WITHIN SAID FRAME PORTION AND ADAPTED TO FORM A SMOOTH SURFACE THEREON, MEANS FOR FORMING A MECHANICAL BOND BETWEEN SAID LAYER OF PLIABLE MATERIAL AND SAID BACKING, SAID MEANS INCLUDING PROJECTIONS SPACED OVER THE SURFACE OF SAID BACKING WHICH BECOME IMBEDDED IN THE LAYER OF SAID PLIABLE MATERIAL PLACED THEREOVER TO SECURE THE LAYER OF MATERIAL TO SAID BACKING, SAID SURFACE BEING ADAPTED TO RECEIVE SUFFICIENTLY DEEP MARKINGS DIRECTLY THEREON BY DISPLACEMENT OF PORTIONS OF SAID SOFT MATERIAL BY A STYLUS SO AS TO BE DIRECTLY LEGIBLE THEREON AND WHICH MARKINGS CAN BE READILY DELETED AT WILL BY MOVING AN ERASING SURFACE OVER THE SURFACE OF SAID LAYER TO RESTORE SAID DISPLACED MATERIAL TO A SMOOTH SURFACE, AND PLANAR CUTOUTS REPRESENTING PHYSICAL FEATURES THAT ARE PLACEABLE ONTO THE SURFACE OF THE PLIABLE MATERIAL, AT LEAST ONE OF SAID PLANAR PHYSICAL FEATURES CUTOUTS BEING BENT OUT OF SAID SURFACE SO THAT SAID LAST MENTIONED CUTOUTS EACH ARE IN MORE THAN ONE PLANE TO GIVE THIRD DIMENSION THERETO SO THAT SAID PLANAR PHYSICAL FEATURES CUTOUTS DEFINE WITH SAID MARKINGS A TWO DIMENSIONAL IMAGE HAVING RAISED THREE DIMENSIONAL PORTIONS. 